Chapter 77
They make such a great pair! This atmosphere, which is straight-up pink if we're talking colors, isn't something I hate, but damn, it's pretty exhausting. The only one who seems completely unaffected by this vibe is Doyun hyung, grinning from ear to ear. Seol-ah and I are feeling the heat in our faces, and even Lee Seo-yeon—who was trying to tease us—is starting to flush a bit. But he's the only one wearing a pleased smile, casually chiming in.
"You two hardly fight anymore these days. It's fun when you bicker, but it's nice seeing you get along sometimes too. Once you find a new place, we gotta do a housewarming."
"...Yeah, housewarming sounds fun. But if you're moving in together before marriage?"
"...Nothing's set in stone yet..."
Both our parents are pretty laid-back, that's for sure. Still, if we're gonna properly live together, it's better to get their permission upfront. We'd have to tell them about moving anyway, and explaining a two-room place would lead right into it. And if we're asking for cohabitation approval, bringing up marriage is basically inevitable.
Of course, given the current situation, meeting both sets of parents doesn't feel too far off either. Marriage takes a ton of prep, so cohabitation might happen sooner.
"Have you met her parents yet?"
"I haven't even mentioned it... What do I do?"
Right on cue, Lee Seo-yeon brings up the parents, and Seol-ah looks tense just thinking about it. I keep telling her not to stress too much, but I get it—it's not that easy. It'd be the same for me in her shoes. Even if she says her parents are totally cool, I couldn't fully relax.
"Seo-yeon... give me some advice quick."
"Which side? Your parents or his?"
"Baek Sion's parents..."
After a brief ponder, Lee Seo-yeon gives a straightforward answer.
"Just dress neatly and pretty, then go see them. Instant free pass, right?"
"...You think that'll work...?"
It's a casual suggestion, but it lines up perfectly with my own thoughts. Seol-ah isn't the type to screw up big time in front of my parents, and showing strong intent to marry would basically be a free pass.
"You've got that thing on your face. Hi-pass."
"...What are you even saying...?"
"One look at your face, ding! Hi-pass approved. Straight through."
Doyun hyung and I are a little taken aback by how vividly she sells it—like she's zooming past a highway tollbooth. No wonder she's aiming for voice acting. I'm no expert, but she could pass for a pro already. Her performance is so spot-on that even Seol-ah cracks an exasperated laugh, her tension easing.
"...I'm not worried about my looks."
"Oh... so you know you're pretty."
"Hey, you brought it up first...!"
And just like that, Seol-ah and Lee Seo-yeon are back to their playful bickering. From a third-party view, it's hilarious. I get why Doyun hyung said our squabbles are fun.
Eventually, Seol-ah—who already looks a bit worn out—changes the subject first.
"Ah... let's just finish picking out what we were looking at."
"What's next?"
"Hmm... check this out then."
Seol-ah pulls out her phone from her bag and opens what looks like a drawing app, swiping her fingers across the screen. In seconds, a floor plan for a room appears. Our club room, obviously.
I say it with pure admiration.
"You're a total genius."
"...It's not that big a deal. Anyway, assuming we redo the whole interior layout, the structure's like this. Windows and door around here."
"You've been planning this since earlier...? Illustrators good at this stuff too?"
"Nah, just me."
"...Figures."
Starting with me, even Lee Seo-yeon openly lets out gasps of awe. Seol-ah starts acting all brazen instead of humble—probably more embarrassed that way—but no one argues. The floor plan is crystal clear and neat. Requires serious spatial awareness too. She's seriously all-talented.
"Anyway! I kinda want an attic vibe? Warm and cozy-looking."
"Love the warm feel."
Her cheeky acting's embarrassing for her too, so she dives right back into the details. As she explains and sketches, filling out the room bit by bit, the three of us all nod along.
"Yeah. Do whatever you want, Seol-ah."
"Exactly. Better you do it all your way than us messing with it."
"...You guys heard me right?"
"We heard everything. Go for it as-is."
It's not just being nice—it's my honest take. Interiors need a solid concept, or it feels off. And her ideas sound great, so yeah. But one thing bugs me, so I ask.
"We can buy the rest, but what about the walls? Wallpaper or paint?"
"Wallpaper, paint, whatever. Or I could just wallpaper it myself."
"...Yourself?"
"Yeah."
Her saying she'd wallpaper it herself so casually leaves the three of us with matching blank stares. We double-check if we heard right, but no way all three of us misheard. It's reality.
Now she's looking at us weird.
"...Why the faces...?"
"Wallpapering's no joke, super hard."
"Totally. But... kinda weird saying it myself, but I'm still a grand mage or whatever."
"Ah."
Everyone knows wallpapering takes real skill these days. That's why we freaked, but with Seol-ah's magic alone rivaling a small nation's military? Of course she can. She avoids using magic on Earth much, and she's our usual punching bag, so it slipped my mind.
But Seol-ah seems to realize we're not alone here. It's evening in a department store—not empty. Normal folks would dismiss "grand mage" as chuuni nonsense, but this kid's different.
"Unnie, are you a mage?"
The little girl from nearby, with her mom. Mom's chatting with staff, so she wandered over and overheard us. At that age, kids take everything at face value and get curious. She's adorable and bright-eyed; we're all smiling warmly. Seol-ah startles for a split second, then crouches down to her level—always considerate, especially with kids.
"...Yeah. Unnie's a mage."
"Whoa, really? Can you do magic?"
"Yup. Wanna see?"
"Yes! Like fire?"
"Fire's a bit dangerous, so ice instead. Step back a little?"
The girl's eyes sparkle as she backs up. Seol-ah murmurs softly.
"Bloom."
An ice crystal forms instantly in her right palm. It curves naturally into a thin pillar, then unfurls leaves and layered petals into a gorgeous rose. The girl is mesmerized, mouth agape.
Seol-ah gives her time to admire, then flicks her other hand. The rose shatters into snowflakes drifting onto her palm. One final gesture, and it's gone—magic complete.
The girl claps enthusiastically.
"Wow! Unnie, you're so cool!"
"Thanks. Glad I learned magic."
Seol-ah seems genuinely happy using magic for once. Facing the kid's pure wonder softens her endlessly. Mom's still talking, so Seol-ah asks what else she wants.
"I wanna fly—whoosh!"
"Whoosh?"
It's the game where adults lift you by the hands and swing you up. Classic childhood memory, especially puddle-hopping on rainy days—I loved it.
Seol-ah's already holding one hand, then pauses like she thought of something.
"Who do you want on the other side?"
"Um... this oppa!"
She points right at me without hesitation. I grab her other hand, surprised.
"Why me?"
Seol-ah smirks curiously, and the answer comes quick.
"Unnie kept looking at this oppa!"
"...Did unnie?"
"Yeah! And... you two match!"
Kids are brutally honest. She's just saying what she saw and felt. Seol-ah's face mixes embarrassment with a sly upward curl of her lips.
We lift the girl up, swinging her gently. Soon, her mom arrives.
"Sorry about that!... I told her to stay put..."
"No worries!"
Mom can tell we played a bit and speaks to her.
"Lua, say thank you."
"Thank you, unnie-oppa!"
"Bye-bye~"
"See ya~"
Quick goodbyes, and they're off. Short as it was, it sparks a ton of thoughts. Felt like a preview of having our own kid. Seol-ah said I'd be a good dad, but I'd say the same to her.
"You'd make a great Snow White. Mom and Dad playing like that."
"...You've been pushing the Baek Seol-gi thing all day...?"
Lee Seo-yeon teases with a grin, but Seol-ah only calls out the name, letting the rest slide with a soft smile.